Concerns about car park distance and safety in Stafford's night-time economy

The distance between car parks and evening venues, along with negative perceptions of safety, have been highlighted in a study of Stafford town centre's night-time economy.

The study was carried out by a working group of borough councillors from Stafford Borough Council's Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee.

They spoke to local businesses, cultural event organisers, residents and visitors across a range of age groups.

Their findings were presented at the latest meeting of the committee.

What the report found

The report said evening and weekend bus services were considered to be weak, which discouraged visitors from travelling into the town for a night out.

It also found a mismatch between users' perception that parking is limited in the evenings and the reality that there is enough parking across the town centre.

Stafford town centre currently has 1,054 car parking spaces available.

According to the report, the spaces most likely to fill up are on South Walls, next to Verso, The Liquor Tank, the Odeon and the bowling alley.

The same goes for those on Broad Street next to the old Wilko building, which are generally considered the preferred spaces for the north end of Gaolgate Street, the Market Square and the Gatehouse Theatre.

The report said the Waterfront car park is not close to full in the evenings, despite being only slightly further away than South Walls.

Feedback gathered for the study noted a loss of convenient evening parking, and said the distance of the remaining car parks from key venues created problems.

Concerns were also raised about poorly lit walking routes.

The working group has recommended that ongoing work to improve the town centre includes better lighting on key pedestrian routes, and clearly signed evening parking and taxi drop-off points.

What councillors said

Committee member Councillor Andy McNaughton said: "I remember where Aldi is now (Kingsmead), there was a big free car park in the evening and that's where you parked when you went to the Gatehouse, or the one outside Wilko (Broad Street). Now we've got the Aldi there is a two-hour limit, and the Wilko is being redeveloped, and I don't think there's so much parking."

He added: "There's Sainsbury's (Doxey Road) and other areas. But they are further away and less convenient."

Committee chair Councillor Frances Beatty said: "People love to park exactly where they are going in through a door. They don't want to walk."

Councillor Peter Jones, who volunteers front of house at the Gatehouse, said: "My wife and I are front of house volunteers at the Gatehouse and we have to park at the borough and walk. We do get complaints from people, maybe staying after 9pm for a performance, that they have to pay for a ticket, and questions about what time the supermarket car park shuts."

Councillor Doug Rouxel, who wrote the report, said: "The car park out here is not much further and the multistorey is only over the way. It's very big and in the evenings quite empty."

Councillor Bryan Cross said the Waterfront Multi-Storey Car Park closes at 12am and is locked overnight.

He said: "People going to a show who then want to go and have a drink have got to be very careful if they're in the multi-storey, otherwise they're locked in."

Councillor Jon Powell said: "When I went out and met people it's very much a perception thing; people expect to be able to park at the door where they're going."

On pricing, he said: "For the sake of £1.20, I don't think any of us would seriously consider that an out of order amount to spend."

Powell also spoke of the perception of antisocial behaviour, particularly in the early evening.

He said: "We are in a very fortunate position that there's more work going on in Stafford at the moment and we are going to be redeveloping a large amount of floorspace."

He added: "I think we should continue talking to the people affected, not necessarily only the businesses, but also people who come in and use the facilities at the Gatehouse, restaurants and bars."

Antisocial behaviour measures

Stafford Borough Council is renewing its Public Space Protection Order covering the town centre, which includes proposals to tackle antisocial behaviour.

One proposal is a "balaclava ban", which would require people to remove face coverings if they are being used in connection with criminal activity or antisocial behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress.

It was backed by more than 90% of people who took part in a consultation.

Four teenagers were recently fined for causing trouble in Stafford town centre.

Council and police officers went to the boys' homes to issue £100 fixed penalty notices, which were handed either to the youngsters or their parents.

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